Forgotten Celtic man Andrew Gutman could be set for another year in America after being selected by Atlanta United in the 2020 MLS Re-Entry Draft.
The draft is designed to keep out-of-contract players in the American top flight as Gutman’s loan at FC Cincinnati appeared to have come to an end at the conclusion of the MLS season.
But before Thursday's draft began, the Georgia side paid $75k in MLS general allocation money in order to secure the top spot.
They traded places with Gutman's previous loan club Cincinnati, who dropped down to fourth.
The move acts as a placeholder, meaning Atlanta will have 'first dibs' on the left-back should he return to the league in another loan or possibly a permanent deal.
And a return now appears highly likely after the payment to their fellow MLS side, with Gutman clearly in mind as their top priority.
Atlanta - who have a strategic partnership with Aberdeen - could then opt to keep him to play in the 2021 MLS season or work out another deal with a club lower in the draft pecking order.
There’s yet to be any official word from Celtic but with a fresh work permit battle on the horizon - Gutman was declined the right to play in Scotland despite signing a three-year deal in 2019 - it appears likely Gutman will be staying his homeland in the New Year.
It casts fresh doubt on Gutman's future at Parkhead as the 24-year-old is still yet to play a competitive game for the Hoops with work permit rules set to tighten further on January 1 because of Brexit.
